5 things I learned about art

From designing my own Tarot Deck

As I’m sure most of you who follow me on instagram know by now, I’m currently designing a tarot deck. I did this partly to keep busy while building clientele for my tattoo business, and partly to start building a portfolio of non-tattoo art for my commissions and gallery work. One unexpected consequence I should have but did not forsee was the improvement in my art.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, tarot cards were playing card decks invented in the late 14th or early 15th century in Italy. Eventually, they began to be used for divination purposes as well. There are typically 78 cards in a deck, and I planned to design a back cover as well, so when I decided to do this, I knew it was going to be a huge undertaking.

Now, I have all of the designs done and am currently rendering the last 14 cards. Being so close to finishing has made me reflect on everything that I’ve learned about art throughout the process. Here are my top 5 things I learned.

Contrast is Key

Contrast in art helps to guide the viewers eye to what you want them to focus on, and away from the things you dont. I had an old mentor during my tattoo apprenticeship who used to say that a tattoo should be at least 30% pure black. I didn’t fully understand what that meant until under taking this project. Having a contrast between your darkest and lightest tones is one way of providing contrast, and will really make your work pop. I started to think of other ways I could provide contrast in a drawing -like in the detail work. Where should I draw detail in a subjects clothing, or the background, and when should I hold back and keep it simple? I realized it all depended on where I wanted to draw the viewers eye. Cultivating this skill has improved my art tenfold in a short amount of time, and has given me the ability to make quick judgements about what the focal point of a piece should be.

Keep it Simple

One of the major beginner mistakes I made as an artist starting out was thinking everything would look better if it was super detailed. This ties in with contrast, in a way: if everything is super detailed, then things will get lost in a sea of cluttered ornamentalism. A good artist can figure out which details are important to convey contextual information in a piece, and what will just confuse viewers. I also learned how to add detail by using the simplest, fewest lines or strokes possible. You’d be amazed by how much information you can convey with just a few strokes of a brush (or a needle.)

My first few cards were difficult while I tried to figure out these big things like composition, details, etc. Eventually, I figured out that starting with a small thumbnail sketch to capture the general shapes and forms of the piece would allow me to convey a lot of information with less detail. I’ve begun to incorporate this more into my tattoos as well, to great results.

Have a Plan

Sometimes you just need to put pen to paper and get something out - it can push you past an art block or surprise you with a great idea you wouldn’t have necessarily thought of yourself. But when you’re undertaking a big or important project, you need to have a general idea of where it’s going. What are your themes? What do you want to convey? With 78 distinct designs that all convey particular meanings, I had to be very mindful of what I drew for each card and why. The meanings may have been personal and not what another person would have drawn, but they were deliberate, and that’s what counts. Next time you’re working on a piece, ask yourself: What am I trying to tell the viewer? What do I want them to feel?

Be Patient!

I’m a perfectionist- as someone who puts permanent art on people’s bodies, I kind of have to be. But that can be a double-edged sword. I get frustrated with myself when a design doesn’t come out the way I had originally imagined. I wanted to get these done quickly and efficiently, but some days I just had no motivation, or everything I drew seemed to come out wrong. I realized that pushing myself to design when I wasn’t in the right headspace, or not understanding what the cards wanted from me wasn’t the way to do things, and may make it harder later down the line if I had to go back to fix certain things I wasn’t happy with. When this happened, I would go take a walk, or go out to eat, or watch a movie. Sometimes stepping away from a piece and taking a breather can help you improve your art and finish quicker.

Trust the process!

Finally, art is a process. There were certain pieces that I just didn’t like at all when I first started. I believed I had chosen the wrong composition, shades, values, line weights, when in reality I just hadn’t rendered things enough to see it all come together. Sometimes, you have to trust yourself, and the process! You may be surprised how everything comes together.

My cards should be done by March, and after that I need to figure out how I want to print and sell them. I’ll be making updates on my instagram and here on my blog, so stay tuned for more information!

Flash sale success!

I’m both surprised and grateful that so many people came to my October flash sale to get tattooed!

Moving to Seattle was such a huge risk, and at first it was really scary. I was partially worried about the alleged “Seattle Freeze,” and partially worried that I just didn’t have the drive or personality to make it in a bigger city. October is my studios first month being fully open, and I’ve been prepared to have no one come in. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

Capitol Hill has proven itself to be a warm, friendly and community driven neighborhood, and I am so proud to become a part of it.

Thank you so much to everyone who’s come to get tattooed by me so far. I’ve had such an amazing turnout, beyond my wildest expectations! Its been so nice to meet all my new neighbors as well and to get to know my neighborhood a little bit better.

In gratitude, I will be extending my new client special through the end of the year. As a new client, your first tattoo with me will be 20% off. Thank you, Seattle!

Halloween Flash Sale 2024

It’s my first October living in Seattle, and so far I’m loving it! Fall is my favorite season, and Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I’m celebrating with a big flash sale. For the month of October only, get an additional 10% off your tattoo in addition to the 20% new client discount. That’s 30% off your tattoo for new clients! You won’t find a better deal than this.

I’ve made a new flash sheet to commemorate the sale, but all my old spooky flash sheets are up for grabs as well!

If you’re in Capitol Hill, Seattle Washington and you LOVE tattoos, this is the perfect time to come check out my space and see what I’m all about.

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Into the Tattooniverse

It’s kind of surreal to think that in 2 months, I’ll have been tattooing for 2 years. Some days it feels like this has always been my life. Other times, it feels like I just started my apprenticeship yesterday. Sometimes I feel like I need somewhere to write this all down, somewhere to document my journey. I guess that’s what having a website is for, though.

I’m starting this blog to talk about tattoos, yes, but also to talk about my journey as a tattoo artist, and the things I’ve learned about myself along the way. One day, I’d like to look back and be able to chart my progress as an artist and a professional throughout the years.

The part of me that went to school for anthropology hopes that I can also document a small part of this fascinating subculture: the Eugene/Springfield Tattoo Scene in the 2020s.

Eugene’s historically had a reputation as a place where burnt out hippies come to die. Whether or not this is true, it has led to a robust art scene as young and old alike flock to the city to work, attend the University of Oregon, or retire to paint birds in their backyard.

We have an abundance of art stores, galleries and artisan craft shops. And at the heart of this artistic paradise, lies the tattoo shop. We have one on pretty much every corner. The rainy Willamette Valley has become something of a tattoo Mecca. Whether you're a fan of neotraditional, fine-line, black and gray realism or even ignorant-style tattooing, there are artists here for every type of client. We also have multiple tattoo schools between Springfield and Eugene, which is notable when you consider that the next closest one is at least 20 miles away.

And it’s not just young folk who come in to get tattooed- in the last two years I’ve done many first-time tattoos for people, but the majority of these first time clients haven’t been fresh-faced 18 year olds, but women in their 50s and 60s. It’s been really cool to listen to their stories, and watch as their worlds open up to a new and exciting form of self-expression.

So to everyone out there who love tattoos, are looking to get tattooed or considering their first one, I hope you’ll find this resource to be helpful. I plan on talking about the etiquette, frequently asked questions, and local history of tattooing.

Stay tuned!